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Joe2012 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Regarding confusing usage of "s" plural
Sentence: "What does it means"
My question/doubt : This is regarding the usage of "s" at the end of the word mean in the above sentence. I've encountered a lot of people on the internet saying the same above sentence differently. Some of them puts "s" at the end of word mean and some don't. So my question to the forum is which one is the correct form, sentence with the word mean or means ?
PS: My own 'limited' understand of English suggests it should be without "s" (mean) because only the first verb can have "s"!
Waiting for your answers,inputs.
Thanks
My question/doubt : This is regarding the usage of "s" at the end of the word mean in the above sentence. I've encountered a lot of people on the internet saying the same above sentence differently. Some of them puts "s" at the end of word mean and some don't. So my question to the forum is which one is the correct form, sentence with the word mean or means ?
PS: My own 'limited' understand of English suggests it should be without "s" (mean) because only the first verb can have "s"!
Waiting for your answers,inputs.
Thanks
Top answer
Hi, "What does it mean means " Yes, you are right. With the auxilary verb 'do/does', you use the infintiive or base form of the main verb. eg Mary cooks dinner.
- Hi, "What does it mean means " Yes, you are right.
- With the auxilary verb 'do/does', you use the infintiive or base form of the main verb.
- eg Mary cooks dinner.
- eg Mary does not cook dinner.
- eg What does Mary cook?
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3 Answers
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Hi,
"What does it meanmeans"
Yes, you are right. With the auxilary verb 'do/does', you use the infintiive or base form of the main verb.
eg Mary cooks dinner.
eg Mary does not cook dinner.
eg What does Mary cook?
Clive
"What does it mean
Yes, you are right. With the auxilary verb 'do/does', you use the infintiive or base form of the main verb.
eg Mary cooks dinner.
eg Mary does not cook dinner.
eg What does Mary cook?
Clive
00
You're right.
"What does it mean?" is correct
It means nothing. This is a declarative sentence and needs no "does." It can be added for emphasis, however. But as you correctly note, the verb "to do" assumes the person and number changes, and the main verb "to mean" uses the bare infinitive only.
It does mean something.
Does this me
"What does it mean?" is correct
It means nothing. This is a declarative sentence and needs no "does." It can be added for emphasis, however. But as you correctly note, the verb "to do" assumes the person and number changes, and the main verb "to mean" uses the bare infinitive only.
It does mean something.
Does this me
00
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